Keep safety in mind over holiday season

December 03, 2006

Here are some safety tips for the holiday season. Personal safety Share your shopping itinerary with someone you trust. Bring your cell phone and keep it charged. If shopping after dark, take a friend. Park in well-lighted and well-traveled areas. Be alert. Look confident, walk with a purpose. Avoid overloading yourself with packages. Lock the doors of your car, whether driving or parked. Keep keys in your hand when walking to your car or home. Be aware of your surroundings and anyone approaching you or your vehicle. When shopping with children, teach them to go to a store clerk or security guard if you get separated. If someone demands your purse or wallet, surrender it immediately -- it's not worth your life. If anything is stolen, report it to the police. Prevent pickpocketing and identity theft Bring only the cash and credit cards you will need. Keep cash separate from ID and credit cards. Do not carry your Social Security card or passport. Be alert. Your purse or wallet may be a target for crime in crowded shopping areas, bus stops and on buses. Be wary of those creating distractions. Record credit-card numbers so you can immediately report any loss to the police and issuing company. Strong, confident body language and eye contact with others is likely to discourage pickpocketing. Men should keep wallets in hard-to-reach spots. Women should keep wallets deep inside their purse. If taking public transit, keep your fast pass separate from your purse or wallet. Shred receipts that show your credit-card number. Home burglary prevention Keep all doors and windows locked. Gifts and valuables should be kept out of sight and away from windows. If you are traveling, ask a neighbor to watch your house. If you have an alarm system, use it. Put timers on different lights throughout the interior and exterior of the house. Have newspapers, mail and deliveries held or picked up by someone you trust. Take a home inventory of your valuables and record serial numbers. Engrave property with your driver's license number or ID number. Photograph your items. Do not publicize that you will be out of town for the holidays on your answering machine or to others whom you don't know. Prevent auto-boosting (breaking into your car) Leave nothing visible in the car. Keep vehicle locked. Keep packages locked in your car trunk while shopping. Move your car to a different location each time you do this. Never leave your vehicle with the engine running. Consider parking in an attended lot if possible. Shopping online with your credit card Do business only with companies you know. Shop only at secure Web sites. Do not respond to e-mails asking you for personal or credit-card information. Charity and fundraising fraud Request written information about the organization. Check out any charity you don't know. Don't give in to high-pressure or emotional appeals. Don't be fooled by a name that closely resembles the name of a respected or well-known charity. Give directly to the charity or on its Web site. Be careful of telephone solicitors. -- Cpl. Regis Thimons, St. Joseph County Police